AfriGeneas Military Research Forum Archive

You are right!!! In August of 1862, General Benjamin F. Butler appealed to the "free people of color" of Louisiana to come to the defense of the Union. In September the "First Regiment of Louisiana Native Guards" was marching forth to war, and soon changed to the "First Regiment Infantry Corps d'Afrique".

(They were never the Colored Volunteers)
I know they fought bravely Tony, but I was making the point that some troops were massacred after surrender, here and elsewhere, by the Confederates. A smaller action happened at Yazoo City, Miss., in February 1864, with the 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry and the 8th Colored Louisiana Infantry. They fought the Confederate Texas Brigade, Commanded by Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross, who was well known by the black troops, that he took no black prisoners. There were estimates of 40-50 black troops being massacred after being taken prisoner. "The road was strewn with bodies", reported a Union Officer. It is said that even the Texan rank and file troops were revolted by Ross's murderous orders. Best regards, Lloyd